Learn how to make a SHRUB drink, using your own sweet-tart custom flavors! This refreshing non-alcoholic shrub drink recipe is delicious and easy to customise.
As the saying goes, “Everything old is new again.” For centuries, people have been adding vinegar to water and other drinks. Today, this practice has made a comeback with the rise of shrubs, also known as drinking vinegars.
Shrubs are concentrated syrups typically made from vinegar, fruits, aromatics, and sugar. They often start with a base of apple cider vinegar and then get infused with fruit and herbs, creating a delightful blend of sweet and sour flavors.
While shrubs are often featured on cocktail menus, they are also perfect for refreshing mocktails or alcohol-free drinks. Whether you’re cooling off on a hot day or rehydrating after a workout, making a drink with a shrub is simple—just mix it with still water, tonic, sparkling water, or juice for a thirst-quenching treat.
What is a Shrub Drink?
When it comes to drinks, a shrub is a non-alcoholic syrup made from a mix of concentrated fruits, sugar, aromatics, and vinegar. This sweet yet tangy mixer is traditionally enjoyed with soda water as part of a refreshing drink.
Originally, shrubs were a way to preserve fruits. Home shrub makers combine fruit or juice with sugar and vinegar, let it steep for about a week, and then mix the resulting syrup with cool water to create a delightfully tart drink.
With its fruit-forward taste, shrubs strike the perfect balance between sweet and tart. The fruit’s bright flavor is beautifully complemented by the vinegar’s acidity, much like how citrus works in cocktails.
While the idea of vinegar might put some off in their drink, don’t be! The vinegar adds a tangy bite that pairs wonderfully with the sweetness of fresh fruit. It quenches your thirst, refreshes your palate, and is incredibly satisfying.
And, with so many flavor possibilities, shrubs open up endless opportunities for creativity in your drinks.
Choosing Your Shrub Drink Recipe Flavors
There are several ways to make shrubs, but at their core, they are all about mixing fruits with sugar and vinegar.
Choosing the perfect fruit for your shrub
Almost any fruit will work for making shrubs, although most people would go for juicy berries. The fruit doesn’t need to be in perfect condition like it would for canning. Just give your fruit a good wash and toss out anything moldy.
Soft, shriveled, or slightly damaged fruit is totally fine. For larger fruits like peaches, pears, cherries, or apples, just slice them into chunks to increase the surface area for better flavor extraction.
Picking the vinegar for your shrub
Most home shrub drink recipes use white distilled vinegar because it offers a clean, neutral acidity that lets the fruit flavors shine. However, apple cider vinegar or wine vinegar also works well, adding unique flavors that can complement the fruit.
Balsamic vinegar is another excellent option for shrubs. One classic combination is strawberries with balsamic vinegar and a touch of black pepper. It’s a delicious blend that’s both sweet and tangy.
Enhancing your shrub with herbs and spices
Herbs like basil and mint (or spices like cinnamon and ginger) can really elevate the flavor of your shrub. This is where making shrubs gets fun—experimenting with different flavor combinations.
Keep in mind that there aren’t any strict rules when it comes to adding herbs and spices, but I recommend trying new combos in small batches first to see if you like them. Maybe you can stick to just a couple of sprigs of herbs or a tablespoon of spices per pint of fruit so the flavors don’t become too overpowering.
How to Make a Shrub Drink: A Basic Shrub Drink Recipe
You can whip up the simplest shrub drink with ingredients you already have in your kitchen. Just choose a vinegar that complements your fruit of choice. For this recipe, I went with mangoes because they’re everywhere here in the Philippines, and honestly, I just can’t get enough of them.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups ripe mango flesh
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 to 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
Shrub Drink Recipe Instructions:
- Combine the chopped mango flesh and sugar in a bowl. Cover it and refrigerate for a day—this will allow the sugar to dissolve and the fruit to soften.
- After a day, blend the mango and sugar mixture until it’s smooth with no lumps.
- Mix in the apple cider vinegar, honey, and vanilla. Adjust the sweetness to your liking. Transfer the mixture to a clean, dry, airtight container and refrigerate it for at least two days to let the vinegar mellow out.
- You can store this syrup in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. When you’re ready to serve, mix one part syrup with four parts water to make a refreshing drink.
Storing
When stored in a tightly sealed jar, shrubs can last up to a year in the refrigerator if you use them sparingly. If you’re reaching for them more often, like other refrigerated condiments, they’ll stay good for about 6-8 weeks. Be sure to keep an eye on your shrub—it shouldn’t ferment, bubble, or get slimy. If it does, it’s time to toss it and make a fresh batch.
